The Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) has issued a seven-day strike notice that may affect staff in public universities and constituent colleges nationwide from October 2, 2026. The union cited prolonged delays in concluding and implementing their new collective bargaining agreement as the reason for the potential strike. KUSU Secretary General Dr. Charles Mukhwaya stated that negotiations for the 2025-2029 National Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) began over a year ago but have not been concluded.
According to Mukhwaya, the union's leadership sent the strike notice to chairpersons of university and university college councils on September 25, 2026. The notice accuses employers and the government of failing to conclude, register, and implement the agreement despite numerous negotiations. Mukhwaya mentioned that the union has exhausted all negotiations, social dialogue, and administrative channels aimed at resolving the dispute.
Two major issues are behind the planned strike: the failure to negotiate, conclude, register, and implement the 2025-2029 CBA, and the failure by the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury to commit funds for the implementation of the agreement. Mukhwaya emphasized that university workers, who are public servants and taxpayers, are struggling with the effects of inflation, high fuel prices, and the rising cost of living.
Mukhwaya questioned why university workers have not had their new CBA implemented while other public servants have had their 2025-2029 agreements negotiated, concluded, registered, and implemented from July 1, 2025. He argued that university workers pay high taxes, including SHA and PAYE, but receive little in return. Mukhwaya described the situation as a "government-orchestrated strike."
The union leadership is currently holding a two-day meeting at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu to discuss the dispute and prepare for the planned strike. Officials from universities across the country are deliberating on the outstanding issues and preparing to lead their members if the government and employers fail to resolve the matter.
Mukhwaya urged the government and university employers to use the remaining days before the deadline to address the dispute. He warned that failure to resolve the dispute would trigger industrial action across public universities from October 2, 2026. Mukhwaya expressed hope that the government would intervene within the seven-day notice period and resolve the dispute before the planned industrial action begins.
The potential strike by KUSU members may significantly impact public universities and constituent colleges nationwide. University staff are seeking to address their welfare concerns through the implementation of the 2025-2029 CBA. The government's response to the strike notice will determine whether the industrial action will proceed as planned.
Key points
- University staff in Kenya may go on strike from October 2, 2026, over delayed collective bargaining agreement.
- The Kenya Universities Staff Union issued a seven-day strike notice to the government and university employers.
- The union cites failure to conclude, register, and implement the 2025-2029 CBA as the reason for the potential strike.
